Mental Health First Aid Courses (MHFA) available for Community Members

Mental Health First Aid Courses (MHFA) available for Community Members

Robinvale District Health Services (RDHS) has been successful in obtaining funds to deliver two Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) free of charge, to our community members.

Our next Standard MHFA (Adult assisting Adult), 12 hour course is on (NEW DATES) Monday June 18th & Monday June 25th 2018 from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm with a light luncheon provided. If you would like to participate – please contact our Community Wellbeing Officer, Sue Watson on 5051 8160. Numbers are limited.

The 12-hour Standard Mental Health First Aid course teaches people (18 years and over) how to offer initial support to adults who are developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis, until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves. The course curriculum is evidence-based, as informed by the MHFA Guidelines.

What the Course Covers
Course participants learn about the signs and symptoms of the common and disabling mental health problems, how to provide initial help, where and how to get professional help, what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation.

Developing mental health problems covered are:

Depression

Anxiety problems

Psychosis

Substance use problems.

Mental health crisis situations covered are:

Suicidal thoughts and behaviours

Non-suicidal self-injury (sometimes called deliberate self-harm)

Panic attacks

Traumatic events

Severe effects of drug or alcohol use

Severe psychotic states

Aggressive behaviours.

Who can attend a course?
Any interested adult within our community can attend. Please note this course is not a therapy or support group, rather it is an education course to learn how to give first aid to others.

Finding a course
MHFA Australia does not centrally coordinate courses. Contact any of the Standard MHFA Course Instructors listed on the Instructor page to arrange a course in your area. Most instructors are willing to travel but need expenses covered.